Economic Event · weekly
Initial Jobless Claims
Source: Department of LaborRelease: ThursdayTime: 8:30 AM ET
Weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, released every Thursday at 8:30 AM ET. Claims are reported at a state level and aggregated. The 4-week moving average is commonly cited to smooth weekly volatility.
Initial claims are the highest-frequency labor market indicator and often the first signal of labor market softening. Sustained claims also matter, they track the stock of unemployed workers receiving benefits, which moves before headline unemployment. Unusual spikes in state-level claims (auto strikes, hurricanes, shutdowns) can distort weekly prints.
Most Recent Release
April 4, 2026→
Jobless Claims release
219,000
+7.88% vs prior
Why It Matters
Initial claims have historically been among the most reliable recession indicators. Sustained readings above 350-400K typically precede recessions. The spike to 6.8M during COVID was a statistical anomaly; more recently, markets watch for any sustained move above 250K as a softening signal.
Given its weekly frequency, claims often provide the earliest signal of labor market inflection. The July 2024 claims uptick preceded the August NFP miss that sealed the jobs report narrative shift.
What to Watch For
- •Weekly initial claims vs consensus
- •4-week moving average
- •Continuing claims, stock of unemployed
- •State-level anomalies
- •Trend direction
Market Reaction Pattern
Sustained upward move in claims: rates down, dollar down, equities mixed (good for rate cuts, bad for growth). Individual weekly beats/misses typically small reaction unless trend-confirming.
Release Archive(36)
| Release Date | Value | Change vs Prior |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 2026 | 219,000 | +7.88% |
| Mar 28, 2026 | 203,000 | -3.79% |
| Mar 21, 2026 | 211,000 | +2.93% |
| Mar 14, 2026 | 205,000 | -3.76% |
| Mar 7, 2026 | 213,000 | -0.47% |
| Feb 28, 2026 | 214,000 | +1.42% |
| Feb 21, 2026 | 211,000 | +1.44% |
| Feb 14, 2026 | 208,000 | -9.57% |
| Feb 7, 2026 | 230,000 | +0.00% |
| Jan 31, 2026 | 230,000 | +9.00% |
| Jan 24, 2026 | 211,000 | +0.48% |
| Jan 17, 2026 | 210,000 | +4.48% |
| Jan 10, 2026 | 201,000 | -2.90% |
| Jan 3, 2026 | 207,000 | +1.97% |
| Dec 27, 2025 | 203,000 | -5.58% |
| Dec 20, 2025 | 215,000 | -4.02% |
| Dec 13, 2025 | 224,000 | -4.68% |
| Dec 6, 2025 | 235,000 | +8.80% |
| Nov 29, 2025 | 216,000 | -0.92% |
| Nov 22, 2025 | 218,000 | -1.80% |
| Nov 15, 2025 | 222,000 | -2.63% |
| Nov 8, 2025 | 228,000 | +0.00% |
| Nov 1, 2025 | 228,000 | +3.17% |
| Oct 25, 2025 | 221,000 | -4.33% |
| Oct 18, 2025 | 231,000 | +4.05% |
| Oct 11, 2025 | 222,000 | -4.72% |
| Oct 4, 2025 | 233,000 | +3.56% |
| Sep 27, 2025 | 225,000 | +2.74% |
| Sep 20, 2025 | 219,000 | -6.01% |
| Sep 13, 2025 | 233,000 | -10.04% |
| Sep 6, 2025 | 259,000 | +9.75% |
| Aug 30, 2025 | 236,000 | +3.06% |
| Aug 23, 2025 | 229,000 | -1.72% |
| Aug 16, 2025 | 233,000 | +4.02% |
| Aug 9, 2025 | 224,000 | -0.88% |
| Aug 2, 2025 | 226,000 | , |
Related Metrics
Other Economic Events
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
monthly · ~10th-15th of month
Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP)
monthly · First Friday
FOMC Meeting & Rate Decision
8x/year · Varies, 8 scheduled meetings per year
Producer Price Index (PPI)
monthly · Day before or after CPI
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
quarterly · ~1 month after quarter end (Advance), then 2 revisions
ISM Manufacturing PMI
monthly · First business day of month
ISM Services PMI
monthly · Third business day of month
Retail Sales
monthly · ~15th of month
Get release-day analysis and market reaction framing before consensus forms.